Steelhaven 02 - The Shattered Crown

  Once again he was that abandoned and vulnerable child, and the man responsible was right there. The man who should have protected him all those years ago was not ten feet away.

  ‘Lord Marshal Ryder,’ Janessa said, standing. ‘It is an honour for us to accept you in our city. The Wyvern Guard has always stood beside Steelhaven and the Free States. Always defended its people in their greatest need. Now more than ever do we require your help.’

  ‘Then we will defend Steelhaven to the last, Majesty,’ he replied, standing up and sheathing his sword.

  After bowing low, he turned, marching his entourage through the corridor formed by his bronze-clad warriors. Garret gave Merrick a knowing nod before accompanying them.

  When the two men were gone the Wyvern Guard stood up as one, their discipline something to marvel at, turned on their heels and marched from the throne room. The warrior in his white pelt remained briefly, sword half drawn, staring at Farren, who glared back balefully. When the last of the Wyvern Guard had left the room, the man winked arrogantly at the Marshal of the Knights of the Blood, sheathed his sword and swaggered from the hall.

  ‘There is risk in this, Majesty,’ said Rogan as soon as they had left, but Janessa simply raised a hand.

  ‘Enough,’ she said. ‘Clear the hall.’

  At that Odaka ordered the gathered courtiers on their way. Merrick stared on in shock. It must have been plain on his face, for even the queen seemed to notice, though she mistook his expression.

  ‘A fortunate turn of events,’ she whispered, as the seemingly endless trail of courtiers left the hall.

  ‘That’s one way of looking at it, Majesty,’ Merrick replied.

  ‘You don’t think so?’

  Merrick looked at her, wondering whether to unburden himself. She was his queen and already bore on her shoulders the problems of the nation but …

  ‘I’m sure the Wyvern Guard will fight for you loyally, Majesty. It’s their Lord Marshal you shouldn’t put your faith in.’

  ‘Why would you say that?’ she asked, but then realisation seemed to dawn on her all at once.

  ‘Yes, Majesty,’ he said. ‘Tannick Ryder is my father.’

  TWELVE

  Accompanying Queen Janessa from the great hall, Kaira noticed how she gripped her fists tight to her sides, her knuckles white. Surely troubled was the last thing she should have been – the legendary Wyvern Guard had returned to the city. This was the most favourable news they had received since Amon Tugha set foot in the Free States. But no, Janessa walked with a troubled brow as Kaira and Merrick accompanied her through the palace.

  She did not head back to her chambers as usual, but instead made her way into the bowels of Skyhelm, down towards the War Chamber. There, outside a small vestibule she ordered them to stop. Janessa opened the door, enabling Kaira to see inside. It was a bare chamber with a single plinth at its centre on which sat the Helsbayn, the legendary sword of Steelhaven’s kings.

  ‘Wait here,’ the queen ordered. She went in and shut the door behind her.

  The pair stood there for several moments, before Kaira began to grow concerned.

  ‘What do you think she’s up to?’ she asked.

  ‘How the fuck should I know?’ Merrick replied.

  Kaira was used to his terse language but even for him this was harsh. However, it wasn’t the time to wonder what was on his mind.

  ‘Should we go in?’

  He looked across at her with a frown. ‘If she was going to kill herself I can think of easier ways than with a sword. It’s pretty difficult to behead yourself with a four foot blade, though I’ve seen it tried.’

  Kaira shook her head in frustration. Merrick was going to be of no help. It was obvious Janessa was concerned about something, but what should they do? She had ordered her bodyguard to stay outside. But Garret would never accept that as an excuse if anything happened to her

  Something clattered inside the room. Kaira looked to Merrick, who merely shrugged his reply. It was no good, she would have to enter.

  ‘Wait here then,’ she snapped at Merrick, and opened the door.

  Inside, Janessa sat on the floor, the ancient sword, the Helsbayn, lay next to her. The queen looked up with tears in her eyes.

  ‘I can’t even swing the damned thing,’ she said. ‘How am I ever supposed to wield it?’

  Kaira closed the door behind her and moved forward to help Janessa to her feet.

  ‘You will not have to wield it, Majesty. No one expects you to fight.’

  ‘But my father was a great warrior,’ Janessa replied as Kaira helped her up. She dusted down her skirts and glared at the sword accusingly. ‘How will I lead my armies if I cannot fight? Why would anyone follow me unless I can lead them in battle?’

  ‘It’s true King Cael was a great warrior, Majesty. But not all good rulers must be warlords. You are only as strong as those you gather about yourself, your power is derived from loyalty.’

  Janessa pondered on that.

  The sword lay there, as though flaunting its illustrious pedigree to the room. Four foot of blade, it had runes etched from tip to base. The hilt was another foot of solid steel, the handle worked in an intricate pattern favoured by the ancient Teutonians, the cross-guard and pommel made of plain unembellished steel.

  ‘I may soon have no choice whether to fight,’ said the queen. ‘I may have to stand atop the battlements and rally those loyal to me. How can I ask my people to fight in the city’s defence if I am safely hidden away in the palace?’

  ‘They would still fight, Majesty. For they also fight for themselves, for their families. For their country.’

  ‘I wish I bore your confidence.’

  Kaira knew, though her own loyalty was without question, that the queen was right to have doubts. There were many in the Free States who would gladly have substituted one ruler for another if it meant their survival … or their gain. Even if that would mean serving a foreign master.

  Kaira saw hopelessness in Janessa’s eyes. She was just a girl, whose courage was faltering.

  ‘Then confidence is what we must build,’ said Kaira, stooping to pick up the Helsbayn.

  As Kaira gripped it she could instantly feel the dead weight, much heavier than it should have been for a solid steel weapon of that size. How Janessa had even lifted it off the plinth was a mystery. As Kaira tested it in her grip it felt clumsy, unwieldy and poorly balanced. Why a warrior like King Cael had carried such an inferior weapon for so long she could not imagine. It was one of the Nine Swords, said to have been crafted by Arlor himself, a weaponsmith without peer, but such a legend was hard to believe. Despite the Helsbayn’s reputation it was nothing more than a cumbersome hunk of metal.

  Nevertheless, it was the ancestral sword of the Mastragalls, crafted almost a millennia and a half ago. It was Janessa’s by right of birth and if she were to wield any weapon then this would have to be the one.

  ‘Please watch, Majesty,’ Kaira said, holding up the Helsbayn and demonstrating the proper form. ‘The sword should be gripped in both hands, right hand closest the cross-guard. Hold it close to your body; you can even rest the blade against your shoulder if it’s too heavy.’ And given the sword’s considerable weight Kaira felt sure it would indeed be too heavy for Janessa. ‘Lead with your left foot, right foot back. You’ll find it better for balance.’

  The queen watched intently, though it was obvious she had never been privy to any kind of combat training.

  ‘You try, Majesty,’ said Kaira, holding out the weapon.

  Janessa took it, and Kaira noted she seemed to handle the weight well. As she tried to mimic Kaira’s stance it almost looked as though the sword was lighter in her grip. Even so, her form was clumsy, her stance weak.

  ‘Perhaps we should try with a practice weapon first, Majesty?’ said Kaira.

  ‘No,’ came the reply. ‘I must learn, and you will teach me. This is the sword I must wield, what better weapon to learn with?’

  Kaira
nodded at the command. ‘Very well, Majesty.’

  ‘While you are the teacher you need not keep calling me “Majesty”. Janessa will be fine.’

  ‘As you wish … Janessa.’

  It felt strange to say, almost disrespectful, but if that was the queen’s demand then that was what Kaira would call her.

  Drawing her own blade, Kaira took up the defensive stance. She held her sword upright, blade pointed slightly forward. Janessa did her best to match the posture and, to Kaira’s surprise, adopted it as well as most novice Shieldmaidens; even managing to hold out her unwieldy weapon at the proper angle.

  ‘That is good,’ Kaira said, growing in confidence with her student. ‘Perhaps next time we should try this in more suitable clothing.’

  Janessa grinned, glancing down at the gown, which covered her from neck to foot. ‘Yes, perhaps I should have armour made?’

  ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ Kaira replied, feeling more relaxed with this girl with every passing moment.

  ‘Should I swing?’ Janessa asked, readying herself to raise the weapon above her head.

  ‘Perhaps briefly,’ Kaira replied, wishing now more than ever that she had insisted on practice weapons. ‘But slowly, and keep control of your blade at all times.’

  Janessa raised the sword and Kaira cringed, expecting at any moment that the weapon would fall from her grasp and cut a furrow across her head. But Janessa raised the blade as directed, following it up with her eyes.

  ‘Keep looking ahead,’ Kaira commanded, memories of barking orders in the training yard of the Temple of Autumn coming back to her in a flood. ‘Always watch your opponent, not your weapon.’ Janessa’s eyes flicked straight ahead, her expression turning from tentative to stern. ‘And put your tongue away.’ The tip of Janessa’s tongue popped back into her mouth.

  ‘This is easier than I thought,’ she said with a smile.

  ‘Concentrate,’ Kaira ordered. ‘Now bring the blade down, firmly but under control. Slower!’

  Janessa lowered the blade in an arc, keeping it under control. Again, Kaira marvelled at her strength. Even the most experienced Shieldmaiden would have struggled with the weight of the Helsbayn.

  ‘I think that will do for now,’ said Kaira, sheathing her own sword.

  ‘Yes. Thank you, Kaira. That was most enlightening.’

  Kaira nodded her reply, then turned to leave the chamber. She instantly realised she should have taken the Helsbayn from Janessa’s hands first, but by then it was too late.

  It was probably youthful exuberance that made Janessa raise the sword one more time. It was her inexperience and the thrill of combat instruction that made her go for one last swing. Kaira had seen it so many times before in the training yard, when green recruits would get carried away with themselves. It rarely ended well.

  Janessa raised the blade, this time faster than before, bringing it down in a sweeping motion that made a whooshing sound as the runic blade cut the air.

  Kaira’s heart almost stopped.

  The blade sheered away half the plinth on which it had been standing and both women watched as the corner of the stone block toppled to the ground, some of it shattering into pieces. They stood in silence for a moment, neither of them quite understanding what had happened.

  The plinth was solid granite. No ordinary weapon could have sliced it asunder so easily, and this one was in the hands of a novice, scarcely more than a girl.

  Janessa looked at Kaira, the Helsbayn still gripped in her small hands.

  Then they laughed.

  Kaira walked forward and gently took the weapon from Janessa. Still it felt heavy and clumsy in her grip and Kaira struggled to sheath it.

  ‘I think perhaps we should leave this here,’ said Kaira, leaning the sword up against what was left of the plinth.

  ‘I think you may be right,’ Janessa replied.

  They both left the room, still smiling. Merrick glanced at them questioningly, but neither woman was ready to tell him what had happened.

  The two Sentinels escorted their queen back to her rooms where her governess could attend her. They spent the rest of the day guarding their liege, but Kaira never felt it was appropriate to tell Merrick what had happened. Some part of her was grateful to have shared a private moment with Janessa, which for now she was happy to keep to herself.

  Later, when Waldin and Statton had taken over their duty, they had both returned to the barracks. Merrick was silent all the while. Normally Kaira would have welcomed the peace and quiet but she could see he was still troubled as he stared out across the training yard.

  ‘What ails you?’ she asked, finding his silence almost as disquieting as his constant chatter. ‘You’ve been acting strangely all day.’

  Merrick turned to her, annoyance on his face. ‘Did you not hear him? Did you not take note as he announced himself to the court like a noble of the provinces? Tannick Ryder? Lord Marshal he calls himself now. How apt.’

  Silently Kaira cursed herself for her stupidity. How had she not made the connection? Kaira had been so shocked by the sudden arrival of their new allies she hadn’t even thought that the Lord Marshal of the Wyvern Guard bore Merrick’s name.

  Merrick looked back out across the yard where the Wyvern Guard had trained until sundown, before disappearing into the chambers set aside for them.

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise.’ Kaira could barely remember the conversation they’d had weeks before when Merrick had told the tale of being abandoned by his father. ‘I never thought—’

  ‘No, well you wouldn’t, would you. We have the queen to protect, that’s all you can focus on right now.’

  ‘Stop acting the child, Merrick. You’re a man grown. I understand it must be a shock, but he’s here now. If you have an issue then go over there and speak to him.’

  A simple solution, but one Merrick was not ready to try. He merely shook his head, letting out a long petulant sigh.

  Kaira found it difficult to understand his problem. She had never known her own parents, having been brought to the Temple of Autumn as an infant. Had she suddenly had the opportunity to speak to one of them she doubted she would have had problems. But then she faced her difficulties head on, unlike Merrick, who took every opportunity to avoid them. Even if it meant running from something right in front of his nose.

  ‘You don’t know him,’ Merrick said bitterly. ‘You don’t know what he’s like. He’s not going to greet me with open arms. We were hardly close.’

  ‘Then why let it bother you? If you hate the man so much then forget he’s even here. It’s likely he’ll do the same.’

  Kaira instantly regretted her comment. With Merrick so obviously finding this challenging it had been an insensitive thing to say, but tact had never been her strong point.

  ‘Yeah, forget he’s even here. That’s a good idea. Right up there with “why don’t you stop drinking and join a bunch of celibate knights devoted to protecting the palace with their lives”. I’m sure I’ll be able to manage it. Just forget the father you haven’t seen for eighteen years. The one that abandoned you and your mother to a life of penury.’

  ‘Then go and confront him.’ This was beginning to annoy her. She knew that Tannick had indeed abandoned Merrick and his mother, but by all accounts he had left them a generous estate. ‘Your paths are bound to cross sooner or later. It’s no use putting it off.’

  Merrick stared hard at her. Then his expression softened. ‘You’re right. I should just go over there. Introduce myself. Show him I’m carrying on the family tradition.’ He began to smooth out his uniform. ‘Show him I’m not a complete failure.’

  Before he could move, the door to the chamber opened. Garret strode in, lit ominously by the winking candlelight. Kaira quickly stood to attention, but the captain was focused on Merrick.

  ‘I meant to come earlier, but I’ve had business to attend to,’ he said.

  ‘I’m sure,’ replied Merrick, glancing again across the courtyard. ?
??I was just thinking of attending to some business of my own. He should know I’m here. That I’m still alive.’

  Garret cast his eyes at the ground, his mouth moving as though he had something to say but couldn’t decide the right way of putting it. ‘He knows,’ he said eventually. ‘He already knows you’re here.’

  There was a pause.

  ‘And?’ said Merrick.

  ‘And he doesn’t want to see you.’

  ‘He doesn’t want to see me? Are you fucking joking? He’s the one that left.’

  ‘It’s come as sudden news, what happened to you, your mother, your estate. And he has other responsibilities now.’

  ‘What the fuck does he know about responsibilities?’

  Garret’s jaw set and he addressed Merrick sternly. ‘It is a great honour to be appointed Lord Marshal of the Wyvern Guard. A responsibility only he could rise to, only he could accomplish. It won’t have been easy for him.’

  ‘It wasn’t easy for me. You know it wasn’t. Yes, I’ve made some poor choices, but that’s behind me now. Even though I’m here – even though I’m the queen’s personal guard – he still doesn’t want to see me?’

  ‘I’m sure he’s proud in his own way. There is just too much going on—’

  ‘Fuck him then. Let him play at being the noble knight. He was always more interested in soldiers and horses than he was in his family, anyway.’ Merrick turned back to the window.

  Garret made to speak again, but thinking better of it he left the room.

  Kaira came over to Merrick, but she had no words for him.

  ‘What an arsehole,’ Merrick said.

  Kaira couldn’t bring herself to disagree.

  THIRTEEN

  There were few things Waylian had experienced that could beat a hot bath. But of all the baths he’d had in his life, this was by far the most welcome. It was as if he were sloughing off the past few weeks of pain and misery; the biting cold, the endless riding, the awful company. All that suffering was drifting away like steam from the water’s surface.